Daily life stuff

back around march or so, i got a bunch of papers to fill out. i did that and submitted them online. it was an absolute hassle. they wanted me to go back through... i have to remember... (part of the reason I'm on disability...) EVERY doctor I've had for YEARS, all their info and what they treated me for, every job I've had in 10 years, etc.

good thing I keep that shit in an excel file.

last week, i got a letter that might be from wednesday. i get up to the mail hub every 2-3 days, so it isn't much earlier than wednesday, picked up on friday, 6/5.

it says I haven't filled out (unspecified) paperwork and unless I have it in by TODAY 6/8, they can cancel my disability payments.

there is no open paperwork on my online account. none. the site is actually pretty bare-bones for info, so it should have been easy to find. WHAT open paperwork?

i have been TRYING to call for an extension and to figure out wtf they're even talking about!

The phone number for the case worker doesn't have anyone answering, nor have I gotten a call back today. Calling the 'general number' without their extension doesn't reach anyone.

Calling the local office doesn't reach anyone AND the menus DON'T WORK!

That thing where it says "for this, press 2, for that, press 3..." Yeah, none of those actually work. What I can do is hit 1 to be sent a text link to set up an online account. I have that, thank you, it gives 0 answers, and also this is time-sensitive, innit.

so I called the office number a few times, trying different sequences in an attempt to get somewhere. no dice.

so now I'm calling the main SS call line. I typically wait 1-2 hours in these lines, or the phone hangs up on it's own because it's been on hold for too long.

most of the local offices now close at 4pm / 16:00. i don't know when "main social security" closes.

So. I called the main help desk. VERY fortunately, I got someone in only 20mins- highly unusual, but I'm grateful. They couldn't help but gave me a number for Determimations.

That office was actually very helpful and fast.

It looks like in late April, there was more paperwork and some doctors' offices never responded. That tracks. One of them took almost four months to resolve an insurance billing issue.

So the papers will be sent again. The caseworker will call by end of the week.

How I feel about accomplishing all this:

@fibro-memes posted this and yeah, I'm at the benefits stage.

i called SS Redeterminations again because it's been over a week and I haven't gotten that call back. I called the original office a few times and only left one or two messages.

Repeat messages clog voicemail boxes. Other people need to also leave those messages. Please do NOT leave a new message every single time you call these people. Maaaaybe leave one a week.

The second phone number I got last week actually reaches someone really quickly, and they looked into it.

-----

No new paperwork has arrived. It's been only 8 business days, but they insist that these letters arrive very quickly.

My last letter was dated 5/29, but arrived about 6/3 or 6/4. 6/5 was Friday. My deadline on there was before close on 6/8, which was Monday afternoon. SO. yeah lots of time there huh but OH-KAY. Yes, they are correct that 4 business days is decent arrival time. The gap between arrival time and response time is Lacking.

----

Why wasn't any of this in the My Social Security portal?

Because they do not have access to anything on the Social Security website.

The Social Security Disability Redeterminations division has NO ACCESS to the Social Security website.

These are the people who can completely cut off my disability pension.

Which might also explain lack of callbacks.

With T-mobile, I had this issue where any doctors' or government office would call from an Avaya or Genysis system, which protects sensitive numbers for privacy by generating random 'mask' numbers, just like Google Phone. T-mobile has an internal spam filter that auto-blocks these. I cannot take that off. It is separate from their spam blocking service. No call would show in the call log. The phone would never ring. I would only know if I got a VM left- but the callback info either wouldn't work, or it would be far too late.

For example, one of my doctors would do phone calls if video quality was poor or a patient was unable to use it. But when T-mobile blocked the docs' outbound number, the masked one, I would "miss my appointment" by not picking up a call I never got. I'd have to call the OFFICE number back and make another appointment. Rinse, repeat.

So maybe that's the problem? Different carrier, same thing.

Nope, they don't use those anymore.

Okay. So..... .. .. .....? I usually leave the phone number multiple times on the same message, prefacing it slowly with "My number is..."

My phone number was changed over a year ago on the Social Security website. It's updated on other SS paperwork. Redeterminations does NOT have that info because they do not have access to it. They have info from years ago, the last time they reviewed my case.

Which means that even though I also left the current number on voicemails, they may only be calling the 'official' authorized number on my account AS THEY KNOW IT.

------

not even a callback

I am destashing a LOT of my things! I don't do nearly as much art anymore. Most clothes are getting less comfortable, too. I need to pare everything down to better manage it.

Mercari - Lions.and.Exiles (link)

Remember that whenever you spend even $10 on someone, you're helping a real person- not giving Jeff Bezos more money for a new yacht. Regular folks actually appreciate that money.

Medical stuff is piling up in terms of thousands of dollars since January. It's all on credit and comes due by... mostly July x.x Some in November, though. I'd like to actually work again but that's ... not possible. ::sighs::

Soon to be posted!

back around march or so, i got a bunch of papers to fill out. i did that and submitted them online. it was an absolute hassle. they wanted me to go back through... i have to remember... (part of the reason I'm on disability...) EVERY doctor I've had for YEARS, all their info and what they treated me for, every job I've had in 10 years, etc.

good thing I keep that shit in an excel file.

last week, i got a letter that might be from wednesday. i get up to the mail hub every 2-3 days, so it isn't much earlier than wednesday, picked up on friday, 6/5.

it says I haven't filled out (unspecified) paperwork and unless I have it in by TODAY 6/8, they can cancel my disability payments.

there is no open paperwork on my online account. none. the site is actually pretty bare-bones for info, so it should have been easy to find. WHAT open paperwork?

i have been TRYING to call for an extension and to figure out wtf they're even talking about!

The phone number for the case worker doesn't have anyone answering, nor have I gotten a call back today. Calling the 'general number' without their extension doesn't reach anyone.

Calling the local office doesn't reach anyone AND the menus DON'T WORK!

That thing where it says "for this, press 2, for that, press 3..." Yeah, none of those actually work. What I can do is hit 1 to be sent a text link to set up an online account. I have that, thank you, it gives 0 answers, and also this is time-sensitive, innit.

so I called the office number a few times, trying different sequences in an attempt to get somewhere. no dice.

so now I'm calling the main SS call line. I typically wait 1-2 hours in these lines, or the phone hangs up on it's own because it's been on hold for too long.

most of the local offices now close at 4pm / 16:00. i don't know when "main social security" closes.

So. I called the main help desk. VERY fortunately, I got someone in only 20mins- highly unusual, but I'm grateful. They couldn't help but gave me a number for Determimations.

That office was actually very helpful and fast.

It looks like in late April, there was more paperwork and some doctors' offices never responded. That tracks. One of them took almost four months to resolve an insurance billing issue.

So the papers will be sent again. The caseworker will call by end of the week.

How I feel about accomplishing all this:

@fibro-memes posted this and yeah, I'm at the benefits stage.

i called SS Redeterminations again because it's been over a week and I haven't gotten that call back. I called the original office a few times and only left one or two messages.

Repeat messages clog voicemail boxes. Other people need to also leave those messages. Please do NOT leave a new message every single time you call these people. Maaaaybe leave one a week.

The second phone number I got last week actually reaches someone really quickly, and they looked into it.

-----

No new paperwork has arrived. It's been only 8 business days, but they insist that these letters arrive very quickly.

My last letter was dated 5/29, but arrived about 6/3 or 6/4. 6/5 was Friday. My deadline on there was before close on 6/8, which was Monday afternoon. SO. yeah lots of time there huh but OH-KAY. Yes, they are correct that 4 business days is decent arrival time. The gap between arrival time and response time is Lacking.

----

Why wasn't any of this in the My Social Security portal?

Because they do not have access to anything on the Social Security website.

The Social Security Disability Redeterminations division has NO ACCESS to the Social Security website.

These are the people who can completely cut off my disability pension.

Which might also explain lack of callbacks.

With T-mobile, I had this issue where any doctors' or government office would call from an Avaya or Genysis system, which protects sensitive numbers for privacy by generating random 'mask' numbers, just like Google Phone. T-mobile has an internal spam filter that auto-blocks these. I cannot take that off. It is separate from their spam blocking service. No call would show in the call log. The phone would never ring. I would only know if I got a VM left- but the callback info either wouldn't work, or it would be far too late.

For example, one of my doctors would do phone calls if video quality was poor or a patient was unable to use it. But when T-mobile blocked the docs' outbound number, the masked one, I would "miss my appointment" by not picking up a call I never got. I'd have to call the OFFICE number back and make another appointment. Rinse, repeat.

So maybe that's the problem? Different carrier, same thing.

Nope, they don't use those anymore.

Okay. So..... .. .. .....? I usually leave the phone number multiple times on the same message, prefacing it slowly with "My number is..."

My phone number was changed over a year ago on the Social Security website. It's updated on other SS paperwork. Redeterminations does NOT have that info because they do not have access to it. They have info from years ago, the last time they reviewed my case.

Which means that even though I also left the current number on voicemails, they may only be calling the 'official' authorized number on my account AS THEY KNOW IT.

------

I am destashing a LOT of my things! I don't do nearly as much art anymore. Most clothes are getting less comfortable, too. I need to pare everything down to better manage it.

Mercari - Lions.and.Exiles (link)

Remember that whenever you spend even $10 on someone, you're helping a real person- not giving Jeff Bezos more money for a new yacht. Regular folks actually appreciate that money.

Medical stuff is piling up in terms of thousands of dollars since January. It's all on credit and comes due by... mostly July x.x Some in November, though. I'd like to actually work again but that's ... not possible. ::sighs::

I am destashing a LOT of my things! I don't do nearly as much art anymore. Most clothes are getting less comfortable, too. I need to pare everything down to better manage it.

Mercari - Lions.and.Exiles (link)

Remember that whenever you spend even $10 on someone, you're helping a real person- not giving Jeff Bezos more money for a new yacht. Regular folks actually appreciate that money.

Medical stuff is piling up in terms of thousands of dollars since January. It's all on credit and comes due by... mostly July x.x Some in November, though. I'd like to actually work again but that's ... not possible. ::sighs::

Often if someone is struggling financially, they already feel self conscious about it, and inviting them to places and events they can't afford can be embarrassing and make them feel worse about their financial situation.

It's also not a good feeling to be excluded from hanging out with your friends because you can't afford to.

So if you know your friend or acquaintance is struggling, invite them to places that are cheap or free, or offer to pay for them.

In some places, social decorum used to dictate that whoever invited is supposed to pay, so if you invited friends to go to a cafe or bar you were supposed to pay for their drinks. That's typically not expected anymore in most places, so depending on where you live, you don't have to stress about not being able to invite friends out for coffee or drinks if you're unable to afford paying for someone else.

This makes it less personal, when the event isn't one-on-one, but it also removes you from some anxiety on remembering everything. Everyone gets the same information, from the same sources, and you can read it to make sure you put everything you wanted to in the post. It also clears up who pays for what, without you having to broach that topic personally. Anyone who isn't interested can just click out.

In the details, there should be: Event name (lunch get-together at sushi place!) Location Address Phone number Date / Time - end time

Hey, everyone, I haven't seen you all in awhile! I wanted to go to a local business since I'm in that area.

They have (list of a few things that might appeal to different people, like vegetarian, cooked food, raw fish, etc.) I do not feel like it's celiac-safe, though.

Please arrive by (time) so we can order together!

Each person covers their own cheque, please.

-----

If you really really want a particular person there, and you can (comfortably) pay for them, send them a message PRIVATELY to tell them you'll cover them.

That way, you avoid embarrassing them AND you don't have to tell everyone else that you'll pay for ONE person but not anyone else. No favourites or anything.

and ffs, that one person from your group who ALWAYS forgets their wallet or can't get their apple pay to work or who only pays their own bills after no one else did and they look Surprised every time???

do not invite them to things.

see what happens when you do not invite them to things that require payment from ANYWAYS. not even ONE drink. see what they're like when YOU'RE the one who forgot your wallet.